J.D. Power Names Lexus Most Dependable Car Brand

Shortly after being crowned the top automotive brand by Consumer Reports, Lexus was named most dependable car brand by J.D. Power and Associates.

Toyota Motor Corp.’s luxury brand topped J.D. Power’s 2015 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, which determines dependability based on the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles. Lexus emerged on top with 89 problems reported per 100 vehicles.

This marks the first time more than three U.S.-based automotive brands have cracked the top 10. Of the five brands that made the top 10, four are from General Motors Co. Buick jumped three spots to number two with 110 problems, Cadillac settled at number four with 114 problems, while Chevrolet and GMC are in a tie with 123 problems each.

Lincoln was the other domestic brand—it had a score of 118 problems per 100 vehicles.

Aside from Lexus, Toyota had two more brands in the top 10. Its namesake brand was in third place with 111 problems while its Scion marque soared from the 22nd spot to the ninth position with 121 problems.

Also in the top 10 are Honda and Porsche (each with 116 problems) and Mercedes-Benz (119 problems). Just like with the Consumer Reports rankings, the German luxury brand also dropped in the J.D. Power study. It fell to the 8th spot from second place last year. Acura also fell on the list: from number four last year, Honda’s luxury division is now in the 12th position.

Meanwhile, found on the bottom of the rankings were Land Rover (258 problems) and Fiat (273 problems).

This year’s report took note of the problems reported after three years of ownership by individuals who own 2012 model year vehicles. J.D. Power found that vehicle dependability declined for the second straight year. The average for 2015 was 147 problems per 100 vehicles, or approximately 1.5 problems for each vehicle. Last year’s average was 133 problems per 100 vehicles.

Like Consumer Reports, J.D. Power also named its top picks from each vehicle segment. GM and Toyota each snagged 7 honors.